Class system

The Education Commission's proposal to reform the structure of the education system will be seen by some as a move to decolonialize it.

Now that the British have gone, so the argument goes, it is time to drop the "five-two-three" English system five-year secondary, two-year sixth form and three-year university and align it with China's "six-four" structure six years of secondary school and four years of university.

But we need not invoke political considerations to justify moving to a system more suited to the needs of the society the SAR aims to create.

The English system is unnecessarily restrictive, with two sets of examinations the O Levels and A Levels exerting great pressure on students in their last years of secondary education.

It also encourages early streaming of students into arts, science and commerce groupings, which is contrary to the contemporary emphasis on multi-disciplinary studies.

Adopting the six-four system has the advantages of eliminating one set of exams and providing space at schools and universities to broaden curriculums.

For secondary students, the change, coupled with moves to reduce rote learning and encourage creativity, will make a big difference to the culture of learning.

For university students, the reform will be especially helpful in enabling them to participate in the range of opportunities on campus: the vibrant social life and atmosphere of knowledge for its own sake.

Hong Kong spends a modest 3.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product on education, considerably less than most developed countries. Funding must increase not just to accommodate the changes, but to produce a creative, self-motivated workforce for the future economy.

-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong